Chalk line holder



Feb. 26, 1963 A. E. FOSTER CHALK LINE HOLDER Filed Aug. 16, 1960INVENTOR Arilz urflistez;

ATTORNEY Unite States Patent 3,078,531 CHALK LINE HOLDER Arthur E.Foster, Falls Church, Va. (1112 North View Drive, Cocoa, Fla.) FiledAug. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 49,985 4 Claims. (Cl. 33-87) The presentinvention relates to a chalk-line holder and it consists in thecombinations, constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Generally there is provided an improved chalk-line holder of the typeutilized by masons, bricklayers, carpenters and the like. In the knowndevices of this type, there is provided a single casing from whichemanates a retractable line, there being provision within the casing forchalking the line as it emanates from the casing. Artisans usually workin pairs with one end of the device being held by one worker while theother pulls out the line a desired distance and snaps the same to mark aline upon the surface of the work with bluing, that is to say Persianblue. If the line is not properly marked or not distinct, it isnecessary to Wind out another length from the box being held by thefirst worker after which the line is again snapped to rechalk the same.In the instant invention there is provided a pair of casings and a lineextending from one casing to the other. Both casings are provided withchalking devices for the line and both are provided with means forextending or retracting the line. When the device is not in use it maybe assembled as a single unit with the use of novel latch membersforming a part of the invention and carried by each of the casingmembers. Novel snapping tabs are provided for the line.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novelchalk-line holder which is simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and yet effective and efiicient m use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, a pair of casings and a line extending from onecasing to the other with means in each casing for extending andretracting the line and for re-chalking the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, novel snapping tabs forming a part of theinvention.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide, in a device ofthe character set forth, novel latch members forming parts of theinvention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventionillustrating the same in retracted position, and

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but illustrating the device as itwould appear in actual use.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein achalk line holder comprising a pair of casings generally indicated at 11and 12. These casings 11 and 12 are identical, each containing therein areel (not shown) which is operable by a handle 13 and upon which iswound a chalk line 14 which extends through 3,078,581 Patented Feb. '26,1963 a knurled cap 15 attached to a fitting 16 in each case. All of thisis conventional in a single casing 11 or 12.

In the instant invention the chalk line 14 is continuous and extendsfrom one reel in the casing 11 to the other reel in the casing 12through the knurled caps 15.

Each of the casings 11 and 12 is cylindrical in shape as is customarybut, in accordance with the invention is provided with an elongatedgroove 16a centrally located in its cylindrical wall.

Adjacent that end of each of the casings 11 and 12 remote from thehandle 13 there is pivotally mounted, as indicated at 17 two or morecircumferentially spaced latch members generally indicated at 18. Eachof the latch members is outwardly bowed, as indicated at 19 and providedat its free end with an outturned foot 20.

The chalk line 14 has mounted thereon a pair of snapping tabs generallyindicated at 21 and each consists of a small cylindrical member 22slidable along the line 14 and a winged set screw 23, as indicated inFIGURE 2.

In operation, it will be apparent that when the device is not in use,the latch members 18 may be pivoted to a longitudinally extendingposition as indicated in FIG- URE 2 and that the casings 11 and 12 maythen be brought together so that the latch members carried by the casing11 will engage in the groove 16a in the casing 12 while the latchmembers 18 carried by the casing 12 will engage in the groove 16a of thecasing 11 thus securely latching the two casings 11 and 12 together as acompact unit as indicated in FIGURE 1. Of course, when this occurs, theslack in the line 14 may be taken up by properly manipulating thehandles 13.

When, however, it is desired to utilize the device, the latch members 18may be disengaged from their respective grooves and each latch may thenbe moved to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 2 or, in otherwords, into positions bearing against the curved walls of theirrespective casings. Being thus disengaged, two artisans may each takeone of the casings 12 and the line 14 may then be manipulated as desiredbetween them. For example, one workman may continue to draw the line 14from the casing held in the hands of the other workman until the entireline is utilized for its purposes after which, with the workmenremaining in their respective positions, the line may be payed out in areverse manner, it being understood that the casings 11 and 12 eachcontain chalk which re-chalks the line 14 while the line is within itsrespective casing. When it is desired to snap the line 14- against theside of the building or the like to place a marking line thereon, it isonly necessary to grasp one of the set screws 23 to move the line awayfrom the building and then release the same whereupon a line will beimparted to the building in the customary manner Without, however, theworkman getting his fingers covered with chalk as is customarily thecase.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minormodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A chalk-line holder comprising a pair of casings, a single lineextending between said casings, means for moving portions of said lineinto and out of each of said casings, and means for latching saidcasings together, said latching means comprising a plurality of latchmembers pivotally mounted on each casing and each engageable with theother casing.

2. A chalk-line holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein each casing isprovided with a groove and Wherein the latch members attached to theother casing are releasably engageable in said groove.

3. A chalk-line holder in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of saidcasings includes a cylindrical wall having a circumferential groovetherein, wherein the latch members are each pivoted at one end to theirre spective casings, wherein each latch member is bowed to rest normallyagainst its associated cylindrical wall, and

wherein each latch member has formed at its free end 15 3,046,663

a foot member engageable in the groove of the other casing when inoperative position.

4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein a pair of snapping tabs ismounted upon said line, said snapping 5 tabs each including acylindrical body slidable upon said line and a set screw extendingradially into said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 65,057Carter May 28, 1867 353,919 Charman Dec. 7, 1886 2,685,742 Johnson Aug.10, 1954 2,728,143 Buchet Dec. 27, 1955 Romero July 31, 1962

1. A CHALK-LINE HOLDER COMPRISING A PAIR OF CASINGS, A SINGLE LINEEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID CASING, MEANS FOR MOVING PORTIONS OF SAID LINEINTO AND OUT OF EACH OF SAID CASINGS, AND MEANS FOR LATCHING SAIDCASINGS TOGETHER, SAID LATCHING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LATCHMEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON EACH CASING AND EACH ENGAGEABLE WITH THEOTHER CASING.